It’s particularly difficult for many to do the study and get to the testing centers, often hours away (my test was in Ipswich and I live in Canterbury). it does seem designed just to make it arduous and deter certain groups of applicants. The uk focus of the questions is a bit of a smokescreen.

The life in the uk test is a good example of “rationing by ordeal.” The knowledge tested isn’t useful, and it isn’t a good language test. Many of the answers wouldn’t be familiar to citizens. But the test does force “work” from the applicants and helps to ration residency alongside the money cost.